The story of SM Supermalls as told by Steven Tan

SM Supermalls first foray into malls began with SM City North Edsa in 1985, with a gross floor area of 120,000sqm. The first SM mall initially only featured an SM Department Store and the first SM Supermarket. Eventually, we added more retail and F&B tenants. It took us another five years until SM City Santa Mesa and SM Megamall were opened.

Significantly expanding our mall footprint over the years, I feel that the tipping point towards globalization came in 2006 with SM’s 25th shopping mall, the SM Mall of Asia. With a truly iconic location, SM Mall of Asia was the biggest mall of its time at 195,000sqm., providing a wider range of retail, F&B, leisure, and entertainment offerings. It changed the way how people perceived and experienced malls in the country. Currently in the process of redevelopment, SM Mall of Asia is set to expand to 670,000sqm upon completion.

Today, the country’s mall industry has indeed flourished with more entrants with varying formats and sizes to suit the changing market. With constant innovation and partnering with the world’s best brands, SM Supermalls has grown its premier malls – SM City North Edsa, SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia. We also have launched upgraded malls, like SM Aura Premier, and expansion wings, such as the Mega Fashion Hall.

We have made our presence felt in provincial hubs such as Pampanga and Cavite, and continue to rollout smaller centers in provincial communities. We have also expanded our reach in key urban cities in Visayas and Mindanao. In the Philippines, we are now clocking in 70 malls.

Malling in the Philippines has grown by leaps and bounds, and SM Supermalls has embraced globalization with much enthusiasm. A trailblazer in the industry, SM continues to bring in “many firsts” in a bid to allow our audience to discover and experience the bigger world of fashion, food and entertainment. We have championed the entry of big brands such as Uniqlo, H&M, and Crate and Barrel to name a few to spice up retail, making shopping in the country more exciting and inclusive. SM’s dining selection has evolved with new and first-in-the-Philippines flavors, with the advent of Din Tai Fung and Tim Ho Wan among others. With the voracious appetite of a predominantly young market, we continue this thrust to deliver premiumised experiences.

SM Mall of Asia is designed to anchor a fully integrated development built with environmentally sustainable facilities. Home to the E-Comm office buildings, Sea and Shell Residences (with the Shore under construction), Mall of Asia Arena, SMX Convention Center and Conrad Manila, the Mall of Asia Complex is a walkable community in itself. Promoting renewable energy with solar panels atop its mall carpark buildings, the Complex is also constructed to withstand flooding and storm surges through its disaster resilient design among other sustainability features.

In our continuous efforts to support communities, SM has gone beyond property development, and has reshaped its malls to become full-fledged lifestyle cities – where people can live, work and play – making each day better for all.